Of All Tribes - by Joseph Bruchac (Hardcover)

About the Book

"On November 20, 1969, a group of 89 Native Americans-most of them young activists in their twenties, led by Richard Oakes, LaNada Means, and others-crossed San Francisco Bay under the cover of darkness. They called themselves the "Indians of All Tribes." Their objective was to occupy the abandoned prison on Alcatraz Island ("The Rock"), a mile and a half across the treacherous waters. Under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the U.S. and the Lakota tribe, all retired, abandoned, or out-of-use federal land was supposed to be returned to the Indigenous peoples who once occupied it. As Alcatraz penitentiary was closed by that point, activists sought to reclaim that land, and more broadly, bring greater attention to the lies and injustices of the federal government when it came to Indian policy. Their initial success resulted in international attention to Native American rights and the continuing presence of present-day Indigenous peoples, who refused to accept being treated as a "vanishing race". Over the protestors' 19-month occupation, one key way of raising awareness to issues in Native life was through Radio Free Alcatraz, which touched on: the forced loss of ancestral lands, contaminated water supply on reservations, sharp disparities in infant mortality and life expectancy among Native Americans compared to statistics in white communities, and many other inequalities. From acclaimed Abenaki children's book legend, Joseph Bruchac, this middle-grade nonfiction book tells the riveting story of that 1969 takeover, which inspired a whole generation of Native activists and ignited the modern American Indian Movement"--

Book Synopsis

In Of All Tribes, Abenaki children's book icon Joseph Bruchac tells the stirring history of the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz by Native Americans, which established a precedent for Indian activism.

"Alcatraz is not an island. It's an idea." --activist Richard Oakes (Akwesasne Mohawk)

On the night of November 20, 1969--the end of one of the most tumultuous decades in American history--eighty-nine young Native American activists crossed the San Francisco Bay under cover of darkness, calling themselves the "Indians of All Tribes." Their objective? To claim the former prison island of Alcatraz, basing their actions on an 1868 treaty that said abandoned federal land could be returned to Indigenous peoples.

Taking a stand on an island reclaimed as "Indian Land," these peaceful protestors brought worldwide attention to the issues facing present-day Native Americans, as well as the centuries of unjust federal Indian policy. From award-winning Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac, Of All Tribes is the riveting story of the occupation that ignited the modern American Indian Movement and inspired activists everywhere.

Review Quotes

"Bruchac strikes an ideal balance between allowing readers to engage with the story while also providing robust facts that make this a title with enough substance to be used as a reference for those seeking more information about this pivotal moment. A well-balanced, visually appealing, and well-contextualized account."-- "Kirkus"

"Ideal for classroom use, this title provides an essential and frequently omitted voice to recent history."-- "School Library Journal"

"This account is accessible and factual and offers vignettes and personal profiles that will resonate with readers. Photos, graphics, and rich back matter complement this narrative about an important milestone in American history."-- "Booklist"

"This will be effective for classroom use as a research tool"-- "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"

About the Author

Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) is an acclaimed children's book author, poet, novelist, and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. His many awards and honors include the American Book Award, the American Indian Youth Literature Award, the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, the Hope S. Dean Award from the Foundation for Children's Literature for Notable Achievement in Children's Books, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas. His books include One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker. He lives in Greenfield Center, New York.